Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday inaugurated the first remote-controlled electronic container terminal in Jebel Ali Port.
The $850 million container terminal has a capacity of four million TEUs, which will raise the capacity of the three terminals at the port to 19 million containers during this year.
Shaikh Mohammad was briefed at Jebel Ali Port by the container handling officials at the remote-control operation system at a distance of 15km from the quay.
He was briefed by the operation crew on the operational mechanism of the remote-controlled electronic container crane on the new quayside. He talked with Emirati female staff who were trained on how to operate the crane and spoke with them about the nature of their studies and specialisations. Shaikh Mohammad wished them success and progress and excellence in all fields of work.
He ordered that more female Emirati graduates be trained and employed in major positions in DP World, especially in field jobs where women can prove themselves and sharpen their skills, so as to contribute to pushing ahead with the development of the national economy.
Shaikh Mohammad then watched a documentary on the evolution of Jebel Ali Port, which was opened in 1979 with one container terminal, before it developed and grew to become one of the world’s biggest ports in terms of container handling and speed as well as ship-to-ship operations.
Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, gave a presentation on the new terminal, saying the remote-controlled crane would help save 70 per cent of the costs.
“The new terminal will be provided with 19 quay cranes that will be installed on the 1,860 metre long and 17 metre deep quayside at the 4 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) capacity terminal. They will join the first four of 50 Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes that arrived recently.
Shaikh Mohammad expressed his admiration and pride in this new national achievement to be added to the DP World’s cap of accomplishments, and stressed that he would support and encourage all creative ideas and efforts made by national cadres in any position and work site.
He expressed his satisfaction with the rapid increase in the number of companies and workers in Jebel Ali Free Zone and others.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, and Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, accompanied Shaikh Mohammad during the inauguration ceremony.
